Why You Should Give Your Door a Fresh Coat of Paint

Whether classic in color (white, black, or red) or punchier in hue (citrus, lime, or turquoise), a front door can greatly enhance a home’s curb appeal, especially with a fresh coat of paint.

How easy is it to paint your front door? Easier than you might think—although it does require some planning. If you’re painting the door a color similar to the existing shade and the paint’s intact, you can leave the door in place; just cover the hardware in painter’s tape and place a dropcloth. If you’re changing the color or the existing paint is peeling or flaking, you’ll need to take down the door, remove its hardware, and place it on a sawhorse. The key in either case is to work methodically.

If the existing paint is in good condition and the same color as the paint you intend to apply, you won’t need to sand or prime. Skip to step 5.

If the paint is in poor condition, carefully remove peeling paint with a putty knife and begin sanding (using 120- to 320-grit sandpaper, depending on the surface roughness) until the door is smooth.

Remove sanding dust with a vacuum, a clean cloth, and mineral water. The door must be completely clean of debris.

Brush on a coat of primer, covering the entire door, and allow it to dry.

Begin painting by “cutting in” around the hardware (if it hasn’t been removed) with a brush. Brush the door’s sides and into crevices.

Use a foam roller to paint the rest of the door, starting at the top and working your way down. Roll out any drips or runs.

Apply two or three coats to achieve deep color saturation. Let each coat dry before proceeding to the next.

Allow the paint to dry completely before reattaching hardware and rehanging and closing the door. A full 24 hours is ideal but not always possible, but the longer you wait, the better your results will be.

If you must close the door at the end of the day, apply painter’s tape to the weatherstripping to ensure that it doesn’t pull off your work.